Tue 05 May 2020:
The Libyan Army has recently made gains against Haftar’s militias, which are supported by France, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.
Since April, 2019 Haftar’s forces have been attacking Tripoli where the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) has formally asked Turkey for military assistance.
Erdogan said Turkey is determined to continue supporting Libya’s legitimate Libyan government to transform the area into a region of peace.
“The safety of Libya and the peace and well-being of the Libyan people are the key to the stability of all North Africa and the Mediterranean.”
He also said thanks to Turkey’s support for the legitimate government the putschist Khalifa Haftar is losing ground.
Countries that provide him unlimited financial support and weapons will not be enough to save Haftar, who also faces opposition from locals in the lands he occupies with every step he takes, said Erdogan, adding: “Hopefully, we will soon receive new good news from Libya.”
Following the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya’s government was founded in 2015 under a UN-led political deal. Since April 2019, the government has been under attack by Haftar’s forces, based in eastern Libya, and more than 1,000 people have been killed in the violence.
Syria
Since 2016, Turkey has led a trio of successful operations across its border into northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor, enable peaceful settlement by locals, and protect civilians from attacks: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).
“We invite countries that have influence in the region to comply with our permanent agreements, to keep the terrorist group outside the determined borders, and to prevent regime attacks,” Erdogan added.
Erdogan stressed that unfortunately no country is “fully fulfilling its promise” in this regard.
If those who support the terrorist group and regime cannot control them, he said, with its own Turkey will bring them to their knees.
Idlib falls within a de-escalation zone laid out in a deal between Turkey and Russia in late 2018 and subsequent cease-fires. The Assad regime and its allies, however, have consistently broken the terms of the cease-fires, launching frequent attacks inside the zone.
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